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[smjjames]

Oh, by way of the Habsburgs, right? Though they were Austrian, not German.

[Owlbread]

They are not a Habsburg dynasty. They're originally German via Hannover, not Austria. Mrs. Windsor's real name is Mrs. Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.

[smjjames]

I thought the Habsburghs did infiltrate the English monarchy somehow.

Anyways, European nobility and all that.....

[Askot Bokbondeler]

At one time, in the beginning of the 20th century, before the First World War, it was the family name of the sovereigns of the United Kingdom, Belgium, Portugal, Bulgaria, and Saxe Coburg and Gotha. Today branches of the family currently reign in Belgium, the United Kingdom, and the other Commonwealth realms. The former Tsar of Bulgaria, Simeon II, kept his surname as the Prime Minister of Bulgaria from 2001 to 2005.

[mainiac]

Greece instituting quantitative easing

Have I somehow missed this in the news?

[Loud Whispers]

*By Greece, I refer to the ECB

[scriver]

You don't fancy Roman culture was spread by "peaceful migration and trade" do you?

Mostly no, though there's always a bit of spread of culture between conquered areas and their potentially left alone neighbours. I imagine that the reason most European languages have almost as much greek based words as they have latin would be from greek trade along costal regions, add in some roman conquest then mix thoroughly with the pre-existing more ancient languages.

No, it's more because Greek was the lingua franca of the Roman empire.

[mainiac]

...which is just a product of what he said.

[Culise]

...which is just a product of what he said.

Not necessarily; it doesn't automatically follow that its previous use as a trade language before the region's conquest from an external power would lead to it becoming the lingua franca of that conquering power.  Greek as a trade language of the Mediterranean survived the Roman conquests, yes, but it waned after the Frankish and Arab conquests.  While Greek was still used (especially in the east under the Eastern Romans), Latin and Arab became the universal languages of choice religiously for, respectively, Catholic and Muslim regions among the religious elite, while my understanding is that sabir, a pidgin of Frankish, northern Italian, Occitan, Berber, and Turkish, as well as elements of Greek grew in prominence as a lingua franca of trade.  Its ongoing spread was in large part due to its favoured status as a language of prestige from the elite on down to the merchants of Rome, and it waned as that state's power waned. 

And as for whether Greek, during the centuries it was carried on Roman spears, spread through "peaceful migration and trade," I would suggest otherwise.

[Guardian G.I.]

Military buildup news - NATO is expanding the amount of troops deployed against Russia on the Eastern fringes of the EU up to 40000 people equipped with American heavy armour. It's very likely that more and more NATO forces will join them in the future.

[mainiac]

I just said it was a product, not that the trade language always needs to be the lingua franca.  I mean just the phrase "lingua franca" gives us a pretty good hint at that.

And as for whether Greek, during the centuries it was carried on Roman spears, spread through "peaceful migration and trade," I would suggest otherwise.

I'm confused by your wording.

Military buildup news - NATO is expanding the amount of troops deployed against Russia on the Eastern fringes of the EU up to 40000 people equipped with American heavy armour. It's very likely that more and more NATO forces will join them in the future.

Putin's foreign policy is an amazing success

(before you judge this statement please note that I didn't say what Putin's goal was).

[Guardian G.I.]

Military buildup news - NATO is expanding the amount of troops deployed against Russia on the Eastern fringes of the EU up to 40000 people equipped with American heavy armour. It's very likely that more and more NATO forces will join them in the future.

Putin's foreign policy is an amazing success

(before you judge this statement please note that I didn't say what Putin's goal was).

In a few years, the border between Russia, Belarus, EU and Ukraine will be like the inter-German border during the first Cold War - fortified and full to the brim on both sides with combat ready troops, tanks and aircraft, all waiting for the order to start WW3.

[mainiac]

Fascinating.  What will the soldiers come from to fill this border to the brim?

[LordSlowpoke]

guardian m8, how many times need you be reminded not to bother with certain persons

[Guardian G.I.]

Fascinating.  What will the soldiers come from to fill this border to the brim?

NATO and Russia with their respective allies, obviously. Or did you expect all parties to off-source all the prospective fighting to the Chinese?